Let's Enjoy Belitung by Visiting The Cultural Heritage Objects Which Has Its Own Uniqueness

POSBELITUNG.CO, BELITUNG - Let’s enjoy Belitung! The tourits attraction in Belitung Island are not only the beauty of the beaches.

The cultural heritage building also has its own uniqueness.

For those who want to visit Belitung are better not to missed it.

In Tanjungpandan, the capital of Belitung Regency, there are several objects suspected of being cultural heritage.

In Tanjungpandan, the capital of Belitung Regency, there are several objects suspected of being cultural heritage.

Below is further information regarding several objects suspected of being cultural heritage which are quoted from the cultural heritage data collection document from the Belitung Regency Education and Culture Office.

1. Gedung Nasional (The National Buliding)

Gedung Nasional or The National Building which was built in 1953, is one of the three government buildings built during the early formation of Belitung Regency.

This building occupies an area that used to be a field called Padang Miring, due to the sloping contours of the land and directly adjacent to the sea.

On the edge of this sea, the Sawang tribe's boats used to dock to buy supplies or take a shelter during the west season.

Since the beginning, this area has been a public area (field/square), with the Dutch Government offices at Resident Assistant level located on the north side of Padang Miring.

On the easternmost side of this square, there used to be a tonil stage, as entertainment for the people at that time.

This simple stage later became the forerunner of the current Gedung Nasional and its function as a public space continues to this day.

2. Kelenteng Hok Tek Che (The Hok Tek Che Temple)

This building is relatively well preserved and is still used for Confucian worship.

It consists of one main building with typical Chinese architecture and two additional buildings in the east corner and west corner of the yard, as well as a surrounding fence.

The current building is an extension of the previous building.

The origin of the Hok Tek Che temple is thought to be related to the existence of Chinese immigrants in Belitung since 1853, who were brought by the Dutch to be employed as mine laborers in Belitung.

The Hok Tek Che temple was built in the year of the dragon, namely 1868, at the same time as the city market was being developed by the Dutch government with the help of NV Billiton Mij.

During the independence period, this place of worship was managed by the Hok Tek Che Foundation until now.

3. Rumah Tuan Kuase (The House of Tuan Kuase)

The former house of Tuan Kuase in Tanjungpandan, Belitung, is now the mess of the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial Government called Mes Bougenville.

Tuan Kuase is the local term for the top leader (Hoofdadministrateur) NV. Billiton Maatschappij/NV. Gemeenschappelijke Mijnbouwmaatschappij Billiton (GMB) stationed in Belitung.

This house was built in 1862 and is one of three permanent buildings the first was built by NV Billiton Mij in Kampong Pandan (now Tanjung Pendam area).

The first Mr Kuase to occupy this house was F.W.H. von Hademann (1860-1865).

During the PTT to UPT Belitung period, this house was occupied by the highest leaders in the company.

4. Jam Gede (The Big Clock)

The main office building for the Belitung tin company, better known as Jam Gede, has played a very important role throughout the history of Belitung Island.

It is thought to have existed since the 1860s, shortly after the founding of NV Billiton
Maatschappij.

From this office, all tin mining activities throughout Belitung Island are controlled.

From this place also starts the zero kilometer point for the main roads connecting Tanjung Pandan with mining centers, that are Buding, Manggar, Gantung/Lenggang, and Dendang, in East Belitung.

Right in front of Jam Gede there are Staanplaats and KV Senang, as well as shops surrounding them.

At this time, KV Senang was a special area for having fun, in which there was coffee shops and food vendors.

In 1926, in front of Jam Gede, an inscription was placed in memory of the Dutch pioneers who pioneered tin mining in Belitung.

(Posbelitung.co/Novita)